International travel requires careful planning for students, exchange visitors, scholars, and dependents in F or J status. Before leaving the United States, review your immigration documents, confirm that your SEVIS record is in appropriate status, and understand what you will need to return.
The International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) recommends reviewing your immigration situation before international travel, especially if you have an expired visa, are on OPT or STEM OPT, are transferring your SEVIS record, need a program extension, have a pending immigration application, or have another status concern.
International Travel Can Change Your Period of Admission
The DHS final rule changing F-1 and J-1 Duration of Status is currently scheduled to take effect on September 15, 2026.
Under the new framework, F-1 students, J-1 exchange visitors, and their dependents admitted or readmitted to the United States after the rule takes effect will generally receive a specific Admit Until Date on the Form I-94 rather than Duration of Status (D/S).
This is particularly important for individuals who are currently in the United States under D/S. International travel and reentry after the rule takes effect generally moves the traveler into the new fixed-period admission framework.
Start With Your Immigration Status
F-1 / F-2 Travel
Review Form I-20 travel endorsements, visa requirements, OPT/STEM OPT travel, SEVIS transfers, program extensions, and F-2 dependent travel.
J-1 / J-2 Travel
Review Form DS-2019 travel validation, sponsor responsibilities, J-2 dependent travel, transfers, visiting-scholar considerations, and the J-1 post-program grace period.
Travel Within the United States
A travel endorsement or travel validation is not required simply to travel within the United States.
F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 travelers should nevertheless keep appropriate identification and immigration documentation available while traveling. This may include:
- Valid passport or other acceptable identification
- Most recent Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
- A copy of the most recent Form I-94
Airline and transportation identification requirements are separate from immigration requirements.
International Travel: Documents Everyone Should Review
Before Returning to the United States
- Valid passport, generally valid for at least six months beyond the period required for your admission unless an applicable country-specific exception applies
- Valid F or J visa, when required, unless you qualify for a specific visa exception
- Current Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 with the appropriate travel endorsement or validation
- Appropriate supporting documentation for your current student, exchange, scholar, dependent, or practical-training status
A visa and immigration document allow you to request admission to the United States. They do not guarantee admission. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) makes the final admission decision at the port of entry.
Keep Immigration Documents in Your Carry-On
Do not place your passport, Form I-20, Form DS-2019, visa, or other important immigration documents in checked baggage. You must be able to access them when you request admission to the United States.
F-1 Student Travel
Continuing F-1 students need a current Form I-20 with an appropriate travel endorsement to request reentry after international travel.
Currently Enrolled F-1 Students
Travel endorsement: generally valid for 12 months
You do not need a new signature for every trip if the existing travel endorsement will still be valid when you request reentry.
F-1 Students on OPT or STEM OPT
Travel endorsement: valid for 6 months
Make sure the endorsement will still be within six months of the date you plan to return to the United States.
Need a New I-20 Travel Endorsement?
Submit a Travel Signature Request through the International Student Portal.
ISSO currently processes requests within 14 business days. Submit your request well before your planned travel.
If ISSO provides an electronically signed Form I-20, print the document and carry the printed copy when traveling.
F-2 Dependents
An F-2 spouse or child has a separate Form I-20 and should carry their own immigration documents when traveling.
An F-2 traveler should generally be prepared to present:
- Valid passport
- Valid F-2 visa, when required
- Current dependent Form I-20 with an appropriate travel endorsement
- Documentation connecting the dependent to the F-1 principal, particularly if traveling separately
If an F-2 dependent will travel without the F-1 student, contact ISSO if you have questions about the documentation to carry.
F-1 Travel During OPT or STEM OPT
My OPT Application Is Still Pending
International travel while a post-completion OPT application is pending does not automatically cancel the Form I-765. However, travel during this period requires careful planning.
USCIS could approve the application or request additional evidence while you are outside the United States. If the application is approved while you are abroad, the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) may become important to your ability to request reentry.
Students traveling while OPT is pending should generally carry:
- Valid passport
- Valid F-1 visa or applicable visa exception
- Current Form I-20 with a travel endorsement within six months
- Form I-797 receipt notice for the pending Form I-765
- Employment or job-offer documentation, if applicable
D/S transition: international departure and reentry after implementation of the fixed-period rule can also affect which Extension of Stay requirements apply to an OPT case. Discuss your situation with ISSO before departure.
My OPT or STEM OPT Has Been Approved
Students with approved OPT or STEM OPT should be prepared to document both F-1 status and authorized practical training when requesting reentry.
Carry:
- Valid passport
- Valid F-1 visa or applicable visa exception
- Current Form I-20 with a travel endorsement within six months
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Evidence of current employment or a valid job offer
Continue meeting all OPT or STEM OPT reporting and employment requirements while traveling.
J-1 Student & Scholar Travel
J-1 students and scholars need a current Form DS-2019 with a valid travel validation from the Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of their J-1 program sponsor before international travel.
First, Identify Your J-1 Program Sponsor
The organization listed as the Program Sponsor on your Form DS-2019 is responsible for your J-1 SEVIS record and travel validation.
If Cal State LA is the sponsor listed on your DS-2019, contact ISSO for travel-related J-1 immigration guidance and validation.
If another organization issued your DS-2019, contact that sponsoring organization for travel authorization and immigration guidance. Cal State LA cannot provide sponsor authorization or sign a DS-2019 issued by another J-1 program sponsor.
J-1 Documents for Reentry
A J-1 student or scholar should generally carry:
- Valid passport
- Valid J-1 visa, when required
- Current Form DS-2019 with a valid travel validation
- Evidence related to the current exchange program or activity
- Evidence of financial support when appropriate
Depending on the J-1 category and circumstances, additional documentation may be appropriate. For example, an Intern or Trainee may also need access to the Form DS-7002 associated with the exchange program.
Most J-1 Categories
Travel validation: up to one year
A travel validation may be valid for up to one year, until the program end date on the DS-2019, or until an earlier date specified by the sponsor, whichever occurs first.
J-1 Short-Term Scholars
Maximum travel validation: 6 months
Short-Term Scholar programs themselves cannot exceed six months, and the maximum travel-validation period for this category is six months.
Cal State LA-Sponsored J-1 Student or Scholar?
Review your DS-2019 well before departure. If your travel validation is missing, expired, or will expire before your return, contact ISSO before traveling.
Do not wait until you are already outside the United States to discover that your DS-2019 requires sponsor action.
J-2 Dependent Travel
Each J-2 spouse or child has a separate Form DS-2019. J-2 dependents should travel with their own immigration documents rather than relying only on the J-1 principal's documents.
J-2 Travel Checklist
- Valid passport
- Valid J-2 visa, when required
- Current J-2 Form DS-2019 with appropriate travel validation
- Copy of the J-1 principal's current Form DS-2019, particularly when traveling separately
- Documentation showing the family relationship when appropriate
If a J-2 dependent is traveling without the J-1 principal, contact the J-1 program sponsor if you have questions about the documents the dependent should carry.
J-1 Travel During or After a Sponsor Transfer
Travel requires additional attention when a J-1 SEVIS record has recently transferred from one program sponsor to another.
A J-1 exchange visitor who transfers sponsors and keeps the same SEVIS ID may generally use an unexpired J-1 visa that identifies the previous sponsor when requesting reentry, provided the current Form DS-2019 issued by the new sponsor has the appropriate travel validation.
A new J-1 visa will generally be needed if the existing J visa has expired or will expire before reentry.
An exchange visitor who has completed an approved change of J-1 category should obtain guidance from the program sponsor before international travel because a new J-1 visa may be required for reentry in the new category.
J-1 Travel After Program Completion
The 30-Day J-1 Grace Period Is Not a Reentry Period
After successful completion of a J-1 program, exchange visitors generally receive a 30-day grace period to prepare for departure and travel within the United States.
During this period, the exchange visitor is no longer participating in J-1 program activities and may not continue J-1 employment or exchange activities.
Do not leave the United States during the grace period expecting to return in J-1 status for the completed program. International departure generally ends the practical ability to use that grace period inside the United States.
Expired F or J Visa
The visa in your passport is primarily used to request admission to the United States. A visa may expire while you remain in the United States without requiring you to leave solely to renew it.
However, once you depart the United States, you generally need a valid visa in the appropriate classification to return unless you are exempt from the visa requirement or qualify for a specific exception.
Visa issuance is handled by the U.S. Department of State, not Cal State LA. Appointment availability, eligibility, administrative processing, and visa-processing times vary by embassy or consulate.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
Certain F and J nonimmigrants with an expired visa may qualify for Automatic Visa Revalidation after eligible travel of 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, or, for certain F and J travelers, eligible adjacent islands.
This is a limited exception with specific requirements.
Automatic Visa Revalidation generally cannot be used if, among other disqualifying circumstances, you:
- Applied for a new U.S. visa during the trip and it has not been issued
- Applied for a new visa and the application was denied
- Were outside the eligible geographic area
- Were outside the United States for more than 30 days
- Are subject to another exclusion from the automatic-revalidation provision
Do not rely on Automatic Visa Revalidation without reviewing your individual eligibility before traveling.
Check Your Form I-94 After Every Entry
Your Form I-94 is the official record of your admission to the United States. F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 travelers should retrieve a new electronic I-94 after each international entry and review it carefully.
Verify Your Admission Information
Confirm that:
- Your name and passport information are correct
- Your class of admission is correct: F-1, F-2, J-1, or J-2
- The Admit Until Date is consistent with the immigration framework applicable to your entry
If any information appears incorrect, contact ISSO or your J-1 program sponsor promptly.
Contact ISSO or Your J-1 Sponsor Before Traveling If...
International travel can become significantly more complicated while another immigration or SEVIS action is in progress.
Your SEVIS Record Is Being Transferred
The immigration document and sponsor you should use for reentry depend on the timing of the transfer. F-1 students should contact ISSO. J-1 exchange visitors should coordinate with the current and transfer-in program sponsors before departure.
You Need or Have Requested a Program Extension
The September 15 fixed-period admission framework changes the immigration process surrounding some F-1 and J-1 program extensions.
International travel while an Extension of Stay or another immigration request is pending can affect how the case is handled. Discuss your plans before departure.
Your SEVIS Record Has Been Terminated or Has an Unresolved Problem
Do not assume that a pending data correction, reinstatement request, SEVIS correction, or other action guarantees that you will be able to reenter the United States. Obtain case-specific guidance before departure.
You May Have Violated Your Immigration Status
International departure can affect your available immigration options and your ability to return. Speak with ISSO or, for an externally sponsored J-1, your designated program sponsor before making travel plans.
If You Receive a Form I-515A
CBP may issue a Form I-515A, Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor when an F or J nonimmigrant or dependent arrives without all required documentation or with incomplete immigration documentation.
A Form I-515A generally provides temporary admission for 30 days and requires the traveler to provide specified immigration documentation within that period.
If CBP Gives You a Form I-515A
- Keep the Form I-515A and all documents CBP gives you.
- Contact ISSO or your J-1 program sponsor immediately after arrival.
- Follow the instructions on the Form I-515A carefully.
- Provide the required documentation within the federal deadline.
Failure to resolve the Form I-515A within the required period can create serious immigration and SEVIS consequences.
Before You Travel
- Check your passport expiration date
- Check your F or J visa expiration date
- Review your most recent Form I-20 or Form DS-2019
- Check your travel endorsement or travel validation
- Confirm that your SEVIS record is in appropriate status
- Request any needed travel authorization well in advance
- Consider how the September 15 D/S changes may affect your reentry
- Contact ISSO or your J-1 program sponsor if a transfer, extension, USCIS application, OPT application, or status issue is pending
- Keep immigration documents in your carry-on baggage
- Retrieve and review your new Form I-94 after returning
Official Travel Resources
F-1 Travel
Federal SEVP information for F-1 students traveling outside and returning to the United States.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
Department of State information about exchange visitors, DS-2019 documents, visas, and program-sponsor responsibilities.
Not Sure Whether You Should Travel?
If your immigration situation is complicated, get guidance before leaving the United States. Travel questions are usually much easier to address before departure than after you are already outside the country.
Cal State LA-sponsored F-1 and J-1 students, scholars, and dependents may contact the International Students & Scholars Office.
International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO)
Library Palmer Wing, Room 4503
Phone: 323-343-3170
J-1 exchange visitors whose Form DS-2019 was issued by an organization other than Cal State LA should contact the program sponsor listed on their DS-2019 for sponsor-specific immigration guidance.